An Air Force service member died after falling from the roof of the Alamodome during a pregame demonstration at a college football game in San Antonio on Saturday. Critics quickly turned their anger on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
The airman was taking part in a fast-rope demonstration before the University of Texas at San Antonio’s game against Navy, the New York Post reported. It was reportedly part of the school’s “Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans” game, and four military personnel were descending from the stadium’s 170-foot rafters.
Videos shared online appeared to show the airman losing control on the rope and falling to the field in front of thousands of fans. He was treated on the field for about 10 minutes and taken to a local hospital, where he died, according to the Post.
The Post reported that he was assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2. His name hasn’t been released.
Early posts about the accident described him as an Army officer before his branch and death were confirmed.
Jackie Singh, an Iraq War veteran and investigative journalist who ran security for President Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign, blamed the Pentagon’s leadership.
“He died. Thanks @PeteHegseth @SecWar for yet another pointless and tragic recruiting spectacle,” Singh wrote on X.
Chris D. Jackson, a Democratic party chair and political strategist, wrote before the death was confirmed that the military’s appearances at sporting events had gone too far.
“This ridiculous military showboating at football games needs to STOP,” Jackson wrote. “Now a man could lose his life, all because some Hegseth-like official apparently thought putting on a macho spectacle for people who came to watch FOOTBALL was a brilliant idea.”
“These men are human beings, NOT props for someone’s political theater,” he added. “Absolutely sickening.”
The Air Force hasn’t said what caused the fall or who approved the demonstration. Military fast-rope and parachute demonstrations at college and pro football games long predate Hegseth’s tenure.